How to Choose the Right Custom Box Company

For many small businesses, custom packaging is a must-have to elevate brand presence and grow as a company. But there are so many custom box companies out there, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Packaging is a major investment for many brands, so understanding how to choose the right manufacturer is critical, especially for first-time buyers.

Understand Your Packaging Needs

Before you can evaluate whether a custom box manufacturer can handle your needs, you need to understand what those needs are. Take a moment to consider what kind of packaging is best for your products, your branding, and your fulfillment needs. Identify the box style you’re looking for, keeping in mind the size and weight of the products you’re shipping and the quantity of packaging you’ll need at a time.

Some boxes are better than others for different products or branding goals. For example, a shipping box is best for heavy items or large quantities in a shipment, while a mailer box is better for small items like skincare or gifts. Or for mailing paper goods or important documents, a triangle mailer or even a one-piece folder might be better. Box Genie offers a complete selection of these box styles, and every order is custom-sized to fit your products, not limited to standard sizes.

Consider your quantity needs, as well. You’ll want a manufacturer that can handle both small-batch and bulk orders so you can scale your packaging to best fit your brand’s budget and shipping expectations.

Evaluate Product Quality

Once you know what you’re looking for, and you’re ready to evaluate some custom box companies, start by assessing the manufacturer’s product quality. To protect your products, you’ll want durable, well-constructed custom boxes. Corrugated cardboard boxes are often the sturdiest, while rigid boxes or paperboard cartons offer some protection while remaining lightweight and easy to fold.

Check out the company’s print quality, especially for colorful or complex logos or other branding. You'll want a high-quality, vivid print that captures all of the detail you’ve carefully incorporated into your design, like the full-color printing offered by Box Genie.

The best way to assess a custom box manufacturer’s product quality is to request a sample kit or a test print. Even companies that don’t offer samples may allow you to purchase a small run or a single unit as a test before committing to a full print run. This lets you get a hands-on experience with the packaging to feel out the material, structural integrity, and print quality for yourself.

Compare Pricing Transparency and Order Minimums

One of the most important things to seek out when choosing a custom packaging company is transparent pricing. Especially for small businesses, transparent pricing ensures you can budget accurately and that there are no unexpected expenses when you actually place your order.

Many manufacturers also have minimum order quantities that require you to order a certain number of units at a time. However, this is often no big deal for larger brands; a small business may not ship enough products to meet those minimums, resulting in leftover packaging or high upfront costs. A low order minimum, like Box Genie's MOQ of 100 units, allows you to only order what you need.

Flexibility should be a key consideration, particularly for first-time packaging buyers. Flexible order quantities not only make your packaging scalable for your needs, but they also enable you to do seasonal or limited edition product runs with their own unique packaging, enhancing the customer's unboxing experience.

Review Customization Capabilities

When investing in custom packaging, it’s important to know what kinds of customization are available. First, look for manufacturers that offer a range of box styles to choose from. Companies with full-color or digital printing can handle more detailed or complex designs, so you don’t have to water down your branding.

If this is your first time designing custom packaging, a company that offers built-in online design tools or dieline support helps to ensure that the design will print onto the packaging the way you envision it. For the ultimate brand experience, find a manufacturer that can accommodate unique brand elements such as branded inserts or dividers to elevate the unboxing experience for your customers.

Check Production Speed and Shipping Reliability

Running out of boxes in the middle of a large run of orders can be disastrous, slowing turnaround to a standstill and keeping your customers from receiving their awaited products. That’s why choosing a packaging company with consistent production and shipping speeds is crucial. Although you’ll still have to wait for the manufacturer to produce your order, if their speeds are consistent, you can more easily predict when it’s time to reorder so you don’t run out before your next order comes in.

In general, standard lead times for custom packaging can run from a couple of weeks to more than a month, depending on the order size and design complexity. For example, Box Genie produces custom box orders within 10 business days after final art approval. You can reduce shipping waste and minimize delays by choosing a domestic manufacturer. This eliminates potential issues with customs, overseas logistics, or tariffs. Box Genie produces all of our custom packaging at our Kansas, MO facility for the best possible delivery efficiency.

Consider Sustainability Options

Many consumers value sustainability in the brands they support, so lean into custom box manufacturers that offer sustainable packaging options. Choose a company that practices low- or zero-emission manufacturing and uses sustainable materials like water-based inks and recyclable paper products. For example, Box Genie packaging is both fully-recyclable and made from recycled materials.

Even their suppliers can affect their ecological footprint. A brand that imports most of its materials will have a more negative environmental impact than a brand like Box Genie that uses domestically produced materials to craft its custom packaging.

Customer Support and Expert Guidance

For first-time packaging buyers, one of the key elements of a good custom box manufacturer is quality customer service. Designing custom packaging has a lot of ups and downs, and it’s important to have some expert guidance on your side to walk you through any design snafus.

Companies with support options like built-in design help or a live chat feature can offer critical guidance through the design and print process. Some companies also offer educational resources to provide insights into best practices for packaging design or creative ideas to make your packaging pop. Don’t underestimate the value of a little extra guidance on your first order or two until you figure out what works best for your brand.

Box Genie offers full support for both new and experienced package designers. Our in-house team is staffed by design experts ready to help you successfully create the box you envision.

Evaluate Reviews, Reputation, and Industry Experience

Finally, even if a company ticks all of your boxes, take a look at reviews to see what it’s really like to work with them. Find reviews from a variety of sources, including online review sites, social media, published testimonials, and even case studies for a clear picture of how the manufacturer works with real clients. Prioritize custom box companies with a clear, positive history of supporting small businesses for the best results.

Box Genie Meets All Your Custom Packaging Needs

For a wide selection of customization options, high-quality packaging materials, and customer service that makes package design a breeze, look no further than Box Genie. Explore our custom box options and get instant pricing, perfect for helping first-time designers choose their packaging solutions.